Why is radon a problem for indoor air quality in homes? The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that radon, a radioactive gas that comes from the natural decay of uranium found in nearly all soils, causes 21,000 lung cancer deaths annually in the U.S. Radon gas typically moves up through the ground and into homes via cracks and other openings in the home’s foundation, and as the gas decays, its radioactive particles can get trapped in the lungs when you breathe. As particles break down further, they release small bursts of energy that can damage lung tissue and lead to lung cancer.
Because there aren’t any immediate signs or symptoms from breathing in background radon, people don’t necessarily know they’ve been exposed. Outside, radon usually doesn’t present a health risk because it’s diluted in the open air, but indoors in homes, radon gas can potentially build up to dangerous levels. Any home may have a radon problem, but because radon comes from the soil, the geology of an area can help to predict the potential for elevated indoor radon levels, and radon testing can provide specific data.
Home builders should be familiar with radon-resistant construction techniques, particularly if they’re working in a locale known to have high radon levels. Being proactive about radon has its advantages, since including a radon control system in a home under construction is far less expensive than installing one after the house has already been built.
The following products work to detect, monitor, and expel radon from homes, helping ensure occupants aren’t exposed to this hazardous gas.
Radon Alarm from Fantech
Fantech’s Radon Alarm system is designed to alert homeowners if their active soil depressurization (ASD) radon mitigation system fails. The company’s new radon alarm mounts easily onto the ASD’s PVC pipe in under 2 minutes, the company claims, and measures pressure differential changes based on internal sensors. The system uses a teach-and-test feature to set the alarm trigger pressure level and confirm normal operation with audible and visual indicators. A malfunctioning system or the detection of carcinogenic gas will trigger audio and visual notifications to help ensure a fast response from homeowners.
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Amvic Building System Radon Mitigation Panel
The Amrad Insulated Radon Gas Mitigation Panel from Amvic Building System is an insulated under-slab depressurization panel that collects soil gas in the air gap created by its integrated channels. The panelized solution gives builders the ability to install an insulated concrete slab while meeting radon building code requirements and helping improve indoor air quality for the home’s occupants. The panel’s high-impact polystyrene film provides a code-compliant vapor barrier under the concrete slab and eliminates the need for a dedicated membrane soil-gas retarder.
Digital Radon Detector by Ecosense
EcoBlu by Ecosense is a digital radon detector that delivers real-time results on an LED display suitable for both short- and long-term monitoring. The detector has a radon counting sensitivity of 18 counts per hour per pCi/L (picocuries per liter), a measure of the rate of radioactive decay of radon gas. EcoBlu’s newest radon detector is a plug-and-play system that provides daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly average readings.
Air Quality Bundle from AprilAire and Airthings
Indoor air quality solutions provider AprilAire has teamed up with Airthings, a global technology company that produces indoor air quality monitors for radon and other airborne contaminants, to offer the Airthings Smart Radon and Indoor Air Quality Bundle, which includes the View Plus air quality monitor with seven sensors that detect radon, particulate matter (PM2.5), temperature, humidity, airborne chemicals (VOCs), pressure, and carbon dioxide. The bundle also includes the Wave Mini Monitor, a battery-operated indoor air quality monitor with four air-quality sensors for mold , humidity, temperature, and VOCs. The Wi-Fi-enabled system uses a proprietary app for convenient monitoring and can be integrated with a smart home using IFTTT, Google Assistant, or Amazon Alexa.
RadonAway Radon Fan
The LV175 Low Voltage Radon Fan from RadonAway includes a 120-volt AC power pack that can be easily connected to the fan and to the outlet using the included two-prong power cord and weathertight two-PIN DC connectors, eliminating the need for any additional electrical work to install the unit. All RadonAway radon fans are designed specifically for radon mitigation to improve indoor air quality by suctioning soil and radon gas and pumping it outside the home.
